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INDIANAPOLIS. Motiv Power Systems and Morgan Olson are collaborating to provide an all-electric option for Morgan Olson’s Route Star walk-in van, built on the Ford F59 chassis. Both companies are exhibiting at The Work Truck Show here in Indianapolis.

“We are thrilled to be working with Motiv and utilizing their all-electric powertrain technology.” said Rich Tremmel, Morgan Olson’s vice president of sales and marketing. “Many fleet managers are exploring alternative fuel solutions and finding electric to be ideal in many delivery applications. We want Morgan Olson to be the body company of choice for these new technologies.”

The new all-electric option of the Route Star walk-in van features up to 20% gradeability, 85 miles of range and a 50% battery charge time of 2.5 hours, the companies said. The design of Morgan Olson’s walk-in van bodies demonstrate a 50% faster delivery time over conventional delivery trucks, Morgan Olson said.

The first all-electric walk-in van was recently delivered to AmeriPride Services’ Vernon, CA, facility. Within the next year, this facility will be utilizing the all-electric Route Star walk-in van as part of a pilot program to convert 20% of its fleet to zero-emission all-electric trucks, according to the company.

“It’s exciting to see leaders like Morgan Olson and AmeriPride embracing all-electric trucks in a significant way,” said Jim Castelaz, CEO of Motiv Power Systems. “Delivery trucks are central to America's economic health and by powering them with a Motiv all-electric powertrain, fleets gain some stability in their operating budgets, independence from fossil fuels and reduction of diesel particulate pollution in the communities they serve – a powerful triple benefit.”

In addition to the F59 chassis, Motiv said it has upfit packages available for the Ford E450 and Crane Carrier Class 8 chassis. Configurations include all the components required to transform a chassis to zero-emission all-electric drive and are professionally installed to OEM standards at the time of the vehicle's manufacture.